Messy Store? Messy Leadership. Period.
Put your iPhone away, dummy
There's this trend going around social media platforms where people walk through stores and snap photos of messy stores. Then, they share them widely, clutch their pearls, and go, "How could associates let stores look like this?"
Let's be real.
Most people I've seen share this type of stuff are men in suits. Men who have "Retail Consultant" in their title. So, I guess the message is, "Hire me to ensure your stores don't look like this."
I call bullshit on this.
Here's why.
When stores are messy, it's because the leaders in the top positions in the company have cut back. They've cut payroll, they've cut positions, they've pulled back on headcount. They care about processes, not people. They don't care about their customers, and they don't care about the humans who work for them; they care about money, and that is all.
They care about their own house, family, security, vacations, and stock options and no one else's.
They do not care that their store teams are drowning in shipment, online orders, online returns, markdowns, and transfers. They think one associate with an RFID gun and a POS password is enough to cover five thousand square feet of a retail floor.
Let me be clear: when you see a messy store, the leadership at the top of that company has failed.
A messy store starts with messy leadership at the top of the company. Those people have not made a clean and organized store a priority. Period. Those people do not understand the actual demands on a frontline workforce being crushed by the "do more with less" attitude that's been handed down to them for decades.
Those leaders at the top are out of touch.
A messy store does not mean sales associates don't care. It means their bosses don't care. Retail executives typically do not visit stores very often. They'd rather take meetings and look over their spreadsheets.
Why? Because when you walk through a store, you cannot ignore what's not working.
Stores get dirty, lights burn out, clearance is messy, the cash wrap gets sloppy, or the stockroom is unorganized. These are all signs of a struggling store. If you see one of these things, you can chalk it up to a busy day - all of them mean messy leadership from the top.
Shorts on the floor? Oh well.
No one wants to go to work and do a bad job. People generally want to contribute and do well at work. Do you think the people who work in messy stores want to work in messy stores? Do you think they're lazy and don't care? That's false.
People who work in messy stores have been given the message loud and clear - prioritize tasks and speed over everything else. So, that's what they do.
They don't have time to care that the kid's department is messy because they have a task list that's twenty-six miles long, and they're probably graded on how quickly they get through it all.
Shorts on the floor? Oh well.
This is the reality people need to come to terms with.
Knock it Off
So, all of you retail advisors, consultants, and what-have-yous, knock it off with the photos.
If you have to take photos of stores so you can sell your services, take pictures of beautiful stores. Shout out all the hard-working associates that made that happen. Shout out your excellent experiences at stores knocking it out of the park. Show people how you can help them achieve greatness instead of fear-mongering and blaming.
You're all professionals. I shouldn't have to point this out.
If you haven't worked in a store in a decade, you don't get a say. I ran retail stores through covid and, let me tell you, shit. got. wild.
Stop blaming store associates and start calling out the poor leadership at the very top.
Sincerely,
All of us that live in the real world.
Kit Campoy is an author and retail expert with 20+ years of experience leading retail teams. She thrived on building relationships with customers and motivating sales teams. Now, as a ghostwriter, she leverages this people-centric approach to craft compelling content that resonates and ignites brand loyalty.
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Yes!!! Stupid pictures that promote the idea that workers are lazy is plain shameful!! And all to get hired. They are NOT on anybody's side but their own.